Best Telecaster Style Guitars With EMG 81 Pickups in 2024

Here you'll find the best Telecaster style guitars with EMG 81 pickups.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

1. ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune

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ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune
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Playability 77
Sound 81
Build quality 67
Value for money 75
Overall Score 75

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (23 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • 2 Prices - New from $1,349 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2021 TE series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60TW-R (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune (F model) bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 2 Prices - New from $1,349 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2021 TE series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60TW-R (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune (F model) bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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2. Fender Jim Root Telecaster

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Fender Jim Root Telecaster
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Playability 72
Sound 74
Build quality 64
Value for money 65
Overall Score 70

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (36 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (35 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • 8 Prices - New from $1,200 >
  • From Fender's 2010 Artist series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 8 Prices - New from $1,200 >
  • From Fender's 2010 Artist series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Jim Root Telecaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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3. ESP LTD TED-600T

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ESP LTD TED-600T
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Playability 87
Sound 73
Build quality 62
Value for money 74
Overall Score 74

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (23 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
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  • 2 Prices - New from $1,299 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2017 Signature series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • 3Pc Mahogany neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 2 Prices - New from $1,299 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2017 Signature series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • 3Pc Mahogany neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD TED-600T
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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4. ESP LTD AA-1

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ESP LTD AA-1
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Playability 87
Sound 71
Build quality 65
Value for money 74
Overall Score 74

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (23 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoReverb logoAmazon logo
  • 4 Prices - New from $1,499 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2022 Signature series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3Pc Mahogany neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • Tonepros Locking TOM w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Gold frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 4 Prices - New from $1,499 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2022 Signature series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3Pc Mahogany neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • Tonepros Locking TOM w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Gold frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD AA-1
  • Gold Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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5. ESP LTD TE-401

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ESP LTD TE-401
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Playability 78
Sound 71
Build quality 57
Value for money 74
Overall Score 69

What our users think

  • Neck access to high frets: Easy (1 vote)
  • Tuning stability: Won't get out of tune (1 vote)
  • Weight: Very lightweight (1 vote)
  • Neck profile shape: D (23 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • 2 Prices - New from $1,250.70 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2016 TE series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LTD Fixed bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Grover tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 2 Prices - New from $1,250.70 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2016 TE series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LTD Fixed bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Grover tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD TE-401
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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